Magnolia aims to continue tradition

The pipeline feeding prospects into the Magnolia volleyball program is alive and well.

The Lady Bulldogs head into this season having lost four of their six starters to graduation, but those big shoes will be filled by four rising seniors with varsity experience.

That is the luxury that Magnolia coach Terri Johnson has. Following the Lady Bulldogs’ third consecutive district title, which included an unbeaten 16-0 league mark, Johnson sent four players off to play in college: The Courier’s Montgomery County Player of the Year and Ohio State Buckeye Kylie Randall, John Brown’s Shayna Daniels, Midwestern State’s Alyssa Fulgium and Maryland Eastern Shore’s Allison Woods.

The two returning starters from last year are senior outside hitter Kerstin Cleveland and junior setter Morgan Miller. Johnson expects the senior group of outside hitter Ivy Fincher, middle blocker Brooke Harris, right-side hitter Logan Lowry and defensive specialist Lyric Matthews to make an immediate impact in the starting lineup.

“The seniors we have who will see a lot of playing time this season have been waiting for their time to come,” Johnson said. “What is nice is that, although they did not see a lot of action in games, they did play against our varsity starters in practice mostly all of last season. So, they’re definitely ready and hungry to see the court, and excited about their chance.”

The goal for Johnson and the Lady Bulldogs is the same as it is entering every season. It’s not good enough to merely make the postseason — Magnolia wants district championships and deep runs into the Region III-4A playoff bracket.

Last year’s squad did just that before losing to Friendswood in five games in the regional semifinals.

“The kids set that goal every year because they know that this sport is very competitive on this campus and that we have a very strong tradition,” said Johnson, who is beginning her 13th season at the helm. “I give the junior high coaches we have here in Magnolia ISD a ton of the credit because there is never a shortage of great players and really good kids that keep coming to play here. They teach them the fundamentals very well, and it’s become an exciting tradition for girls in Magnolia to be a part of.”